Hailee's POV
Nathan didn't wait for my response. He just turned around and walked back inside, his shoulders stiff. For a moment, I stood there alone in the cold air, trying to steady my breathing. My hands were shaking, my heart still pounding painfully against my ribs. His words, "Go back inside, your boys need you," echoed in my head like a whisper I couldn't ignore.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and forced myself to move. Each step back toward the hospital, my legs trembled, my chest ached, and my throat burned from crying. The bright hospital lights stung my eyes as I walked down the long corridor. Nurses passed by, whispering softly, their eyes filled with quiet sympathy, but I couldn't meet anyone's gaze.
